How's Your Empty Nest

Written by Jeanine Herrin

The Kids have all left nest (or just about?), house is empty and you’re wondering what you’re going to do with your time now.

Seems like it just “happened” all of a sudden for some while others knew time was near and dreaded when last child (maybe even first or perhaps only?) left nest to head off to college or whatever other plans they may have made.

So many Moms (and yes, Dads too!) have a difficult time adjusting to this time even though you know that this is all part of ‘the plan’ from time they are born. After all we did same thing didn’t we? Went off to college, got a job and moved out (eventually), or married and started our own life. And yet, it draws near and you find yourself almost in a panic wondering what you are going to do with rest of your life!

You spend so much of your time ‘doing’ for kids from time they are born; you find your life pretty much revolves around theirs. Even for a lot of Moms that have worked outside home for several years, it’s pretty much same. Get up in morning, get kids up make breakfast, make sure they’re ready for school, go to work only to try and make sure you get off in time to make a ball game or other school activities, (not to mention times they are home sick from school!) your life is still pretty much revolving around kids!

And even though, as mentioned, you know this time is coming, it’s kind of hard to just shut all of this down and go on with what amounts to a “new life”.

But, it’s here and now you have to adjust and deal with it! Much easier said then done for some.

First off do give yourself a BIG pat on back; you deserve it. You have raised a child with confidence to go out and face that ‘big wide world’ and now you need to give yourself some adjusting time. After all it’s almost like a time of “mourning” for some, you feel like you have lost a part of yourself, which, of course, is NOT true. Now is time to find that “Old You” or create a “New You”!

So many think their time as “Mom” is over with, which is also not true. It just revolves into a different phase. You’ll always be their Mom, even though it might feel at times that they are shutting you out. Remember, they are going through their adjusting period too! They settle down after a while, you start adjusting to their being out of house, then that more “adult” relationship begins which can be very rewarding when you start seeing your ‘child’ becoming an adult.

Meanwhile, it’s time to start thinking of you and what you want to do with this new phase of your life.

Work at Home Job vs. Work at Home Business

Written by Susanne Myers

One way or another you have come to conclusion that daily commute to corporate America just isn’t going to cut it anymore. Or maybe, you have already been able to stay home with your kids for a while, but now need some extra income.

One way or another, you have decided its about time to become a work at home mom or WAHM.

This is an exciting journey and there are many decisions to make along way.

One of first decisions you are going to have to make is whether you would be better off with a work at home job or a work at home business. Either one of them could be right fit for you, so let’s take a moment to explore advantages as well as disadvantages of each.

Let’s start with a work at home job. There are lots of options out there and some of advantages and disadvantages may not apply to some of them, but in general you’ll find following. Hands down greatest advantage of a job is that you’ll receive a regular paycheck. If you put 40 hours of work in, you know you’ll get paid for those 40 hours. With most WAH Jobs you can also count on getting about same amount of hours. It allows you to plan your day and week around your work schedule easily. You do not need any upfront investment. Please stay away from work at home jobs that ask you for any type of fee. They are scams. Don’t waist your time and money. The last advantage of a job I would like to mention is that you’ll get instant rewards with a job. You work one week, you’ll get paid next. No need to keep yourself motivated to keep working. You’ll be rewarded by your paycheck at end of week.

Now don’t run out and get a job quite yet. There is a backside to all this as well. You will still have a boss that tells you what to do. You can also lose a job on a moments notice. You are not building any residual income that would allow you to slow down after you put some time into it. Unless you are putting money into a 401K, you won’t get paid once you stop working. A job also allows you less flexibility. Your boss and colleagues are depending on you work.

This being said, lets move on to a work at home business. Yes, just idea of it seems daunting, but there are thousands of work at home moms, that start profitable businesses every year. With some planning and determination you can do same if you choose to do so. Many of us have grown up in households of jobholders. A business seems to be this scary, risky entity. It really isn’t though and there are so many great resources on this site and elsewhere that will guide you along way. Take a good look at advantages and disadvantages of owning your own business and make a decision on facts and what you think would work best for you and your family. Please do not let fear make this decision for you.